Western Asiatic Four-Sided Amulet with Figures and Stars

Small rectangular tablet with impressed text on four sides. 24.1 grams, 37 mm



Specialised collection of cuneiform texts, the property of a London gentleman and housed in London before 1992. Thence by descent to family members. Examined by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert FBA (1926-2011), historian, archaeologist, and specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern archaeology, in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This small collection is exceptional for the variety of types, including some very rare and well preserved examples.

Discoid stamp seal with segmented face; accompanied by an old scholarly note, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Stamp Seal of Bronze, 19.5 x 19 x 22 mm. The round flat face is compartmented, and the solid back rises to a pierced knob handle. The design divided the circle into four parts with two crossing lines, and within each quarter there is a short line starting from the rim but not reaching the centre. This is a seal from west the Bronze Age of west central Asia, probably dates to c. 2000-1500 B.C. There is some incrustation on the surface, which could be removed, and the metal is in very good condition.' 14.2 grams, 22 mm



Acquired in the late 1980s-early 1990s. Ex property of a West London businessman. Academically researched and catalogued by the late Professor Lambert in the early 1990s. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly report, numbered B-34, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert.

With eight lines of qatabanic Sabaean text regarding an unknown temple of the kingdom of Qatabān, dedicated to the gods Amm dhu-Raymatum and Warafum: '1 Dlwn -b-Gbln ʿbd (s¹q)ny[ ʿm] 2 ḏ-Rymtm w-Wrfm (s¹)qnyt-ḏ= 3 hbm ḥg tkrb-s¹mn gwm/ 4 bʿw mhrt Nbṭ m w-(ytʿs¹) 5 w-ʾbl-s¹ ḥg t(k)rb-s¹mn l-m= 6 tʿn-s¹ b-s¹wt brṯ n rṯd D..= 7 wn ʿm w-Wrfm ʾḏn-s¹ w-(mqm)-s¹ 8 w-qny-s¹ b-ḥg ʿm w-ʾnby' 'Dalwān ... offered [to ʿAmm] (2) dhu-Raymatum and Warafum the offering of (3) bronze according to the promise he made to them ... (4) ... mares of Nabaṭ um ... (5) his camel in accordance with the promise he had made to them to be (6) protected in this expedition. Dalwān has confided (7) to ʿAmm and Warafum his faculties, his abilities (8) and his possessions, with the approval of Amm and Anbī'; mounted on a custom-made stand. 1.01 kg total, 23.7 cm high including stand



Ex London W1 collector; acquired between 1970 and the late 1990s.